Some grocery items feed you temporarily, while others stick with you for life — perhaps that’s what good brands are all about? Whether it was a box of crackers in your childhood lunchbox or a can of soup that warmed up winter afternoons, the brands boomers grew up with were pantry staples, family fixtures, and small traditions.
Surprisingly, many of these names are still around. Some haven’t changed much, while others have received new looks, healthier tweaks, or updated mascots, but they’re still instantly recognizable in any aisle. To that effect, here are ten classic grocery brands that have stood the test of time and continue to remain on shelves today.
Kraft
Few names scream “comfort food” like Kraft. If you grew up in the 1950s or 60s, there’s a good chance your mac and cheese came in that unmistakable blue box —part of Kraft’s mid-century expansion into pantry staples like jellies, BBQ sauces, and salad dressings.
Powdered cheese sauce was a miracle back then! Today, Kraft has updated its lineup with organic and reduced-sodium options, but the original orange classic is still going strong. Nostalgic and dependable.
Campbell’s
You can practically hear the jingle—“M’m! M’m! Good!”—when you set your sight on this iconic red-and-white can. Campbell’s soup was a weeknight go-to, a quick lunch, a snow day essential, and the thing you wanted to grab when you were having a particularly rough day.
Tomato, chicken noodle, and cream of mushroom practically built the American casserole scene. And yes, they’re still everywhere and remain a top brand for Boomers, although the labels are sleeker now and there’s a “wellness” line that targets modern, health-conscious eaters.
Heinz
Ketchup? That’s Heinz. For boomers, the glass bottle was part of the experience. Flip it, tap the “57,” and wait for the thick, sweet red sauce to make its way out. Founded in 1869, Heinz hasn’t gone anywhere; in fact, it has expanded into a range of products, including sauces, dips, and organic blends. But that original ketchup still tastes like backyard cookouts and burger nights from back in the day.
Fun fact: Heinz Tomato Ketchup has maintained its original recipe since 1876, which is why it still tastes the same.
Quaker Oats
With its colonial-looking mascot (introduced in 1877) and the familiar cylindrical cardboard tub, which debuted in 1915, Quaker Oats has been a breakfast standard for generations.
In the boomer years, hot oatmeal with innovations like Instant Oatmeal in 1966 and flavored varieties like Maple & Brown Sugar in 1970 was a popular breakfast option before school or work. Today, the brand offers everything from instant packets to overnight oats kits. However, the classic is still hearty, healthy, and just as you left it.
Betty Crocker
Not a person, but an icon nonetheless. Betty Crocker was the face of easy baking—cakes, brownies, cookies, particularly after introducing cake mixes in 1947. If you made birthday treats with your parents or brought cupcakes to class, you probably used Betty. Today’s boxes might be flashier, but that red spoon logo still feels like a trusted friend in the kitchen.
Bonus trivia: Betty Crocker was created as a fictional character in 1921 by the Washburn-Crosby Company (later General Mills) to provide personalized responses to baking questions. The name combined “Betty” (chosen for its friendly tone) and “Crocker” (honoring a company director). Her persona evolved through radio shows, cookbooks, and wartime rationing advice, maintaining relevance across generations.
Planters
Before “healthy snacking” was a trend, there were canisters of Planters peanuts on coffee tables and in glove compartments. By the 1950s, the snack food company had already begun airing TV commercials nationwide featuring Mr. Peanut, who, complete with his monocle and top hat, had become a symbol of salty satisfaction.
Planters, which was founded in 1906 has been owned by several companies: Standard Brands (1960), Nabisco Brands (1981), Kraft Foods (2000), Kraft Heinz (2015), and most recently Hormel Foods (since 2021)has survived the decades with barely a blink, adding new flavors and mixed nuts but keeping that old-school charm.
Reese’s
There’s a reason they’ve never been “just” peanut butter cups. Introduced in 1928, Reese’s was— and still is —a chocolate-peanut butter combo that other brands continue to try to copy.
For boomers, it was a Halloween staple and a gas station treat. Now you’ll find minis, Big Cups, thins (even cereal), but that classic orange wrapper still hits hardest. The brand merged with Hershey in 1963, ensuring widespread availability during the 1950s and 1960s, and beyond. It remains the #1 U.S. confectionery brand as of 2024.
Nabisco
Founded in 1898 as the National Biscuit Company, Nabisco is pretty much a household name with iconic products such as Oreo, Ritz, Saltines, and Fig Newtons. Nabisco’s lineup basically defined American snack time.
If you had a cupboard growing up, it probably contained at least one Nabisco box. Over the years, the parent companies have changed (Nabisco’s products are now available under the parent company Mondelēz International), but the brand itself has not lost its place. Familiar packaging, slightly modernized recipes, and still a go-to when the munchies hit.
Hershey’s
Founded in 1894, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bars were the gold standard for chocolate. Folks remember Hershey bars from campfires, birthday parties, and movie theater candy counters. The foil-wrapped bars with paper sleeves were a childhood treasure.
Today, Hershey’s has expanded into syrups, snack mixes, and a wide range of seasonal treats. But the milk chocolate square with the subtle “HERSHEY’S” imprint is still exactly the same.
Lay’s
Founded in 1932 by Herman Lay, Lay’s potato chips were lunchbox gold in the boomer era, with flavors like classic, barbecue, and sour cream & onion becoming instant favorites. By the mid-1960s, the brand had become a dominant snack brand, supported by its iconic “Betcha can’t eat just one” slogan.
Now there are international flavors, limited editions, and even air-baked versions. But at the end of the day, that crinkly yellow bag still brings back memories.